Astronomers have found a planet that could be the best candidate for life. The planet, called HD 137010 b, is slightly larger than Earth. It orbits its star every 355 days, almost like our own year. It is located 146 light-years away from us. This remarkable discovery has excited scientists around the world.
The planet orbits a K-dwarf star, which is smaller and cooler than our Sun. However, this star is exceptionally bright compared to other exoplanet host stars. HD 137010 b receives only about 29% of the sunlight that Earth gets. Models suggest there is a 40% chance it sits inside the habitable zone. If it had a thick carbon-dioxide atmosphere, it could trap enough heat for liquid water.
The discovery story itself is fascinating. Citizen scientists with the Planet Hunters project first spotted the signal. They used old data from the Kepler Space Telescope to find it. Automated algorithms had overlooked the planet because they search for repeating signals. Since the planet crossed its star only once, it was hidden for years. As researcher Alexander Venner explained, the best way to detect it was to simply look.
This planet stands out because most Earth-sized planets orbit very faint stars. Those dim stars are extremely difficult to study with current technology. Other similar planets orbit M-dwarf stars, which expose them to harsh radiation. HD 137010 b avoids these problems, making it ideal for future research. Scientists are now eager to study its atmosphere for signs of life.